Chapter 13: The Expansive Realm of Islam

Name: Chapter 13: The Expansive Realm of Islam
Uploaded: 2017-07-29T10:29:43+00:00
Duration: PTM21S34
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Description: Chapter 13: The Expansive Realm of Islam

Chapter 13: The Expansive Realm of Islam

Muhammad and His Message Muhammad - Born about 570 C.E. to merchant family in Mecca Orphaned as a child Marries wealthy widow, Khadija ca. 595 C.E., works as merchant Familiarity with paganism, Christianity and Judaism as practiced in Arabian peninsula - Muhammad - lost parents early – uncle and grandfather took him in – had hard life At 30 he was an established merchant – comfortable life in Arabian society - (Arab) Many religions and cultures regularly met and traded in Mecca

Muhammad’s Spiritual Transformation Visions, ca. 610 C.E. Received message delivered by Archangel Gabriel, and told he must explain it to other people Monotheism – Allah Attracts followers in Mecca About 610CE – he had visions that made him believe there was one true God – Allah – and that all other gods were not to be worshipped – believed the good would be rewarded and the bad punished He began telling his family and close friends, slowly he began expanding his circle of followers

The Quran Record of revelations received during visions - called the Quran it communicates Muhammad’s understanding of Allah and his relation to the world is the authority for Islam doctrine and social organization Committed to writing ca. 650 C.E. (Muhammad dies 632 C.E.) His followers wrote down his stories and deeds - these traditions are known as hadith

Conflict at Mecca Muhammad’s monotheistic teachings offensive to Mecca’s polytheistic pagans and the elite Merchants were offended when Muhammad said greed was wicked and Allah would punish them Muhammad also attacked idolatry – upset people who owned shrines – especially the Ka’ba the Ka’ba drew worshipers from all over to Mecca Muhammad’s attacks threatened economic interests Muhammad and followers began to be persecuted - the Ka’ba drew worshipers from all over with their wealth

The Hegira Muhammad flees to Yathrib (Medina) 622 C.E. This journey was known as the hijra (migration) Year 0 in Muslim calendar Organizes followers into a community of the faithful (the umma) Gave them a legal, spiritual code Raided Meccan caravans for sake of umma Regularly gave alms to widows, orphans, and the poor

The “Seal of the Prophets” Muhammad referred to himself as the final prophet – “seal of the prophets” Accepted the authority of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Held in high esteem Hebrew scriptures and the Christian New Testament He believed Allah was the same as Yahweh and God But…he believed he had been entrusted w/ a more complete revelation, one that communicated Allah’s plan for the world

Muhammad’s Return to Mecca Attack on Mecca, 630 C.E. – conquered the city Conversion of Mecca to Islam Destruction of pagan sites, replaced with mosques Ka’ba preserved in honor of importance of Mecca Approved as pilgrimage site - While at Medina, he always planned to return to Mecca

The Five Pillars of Islam Five Pillars of Islam No god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet Daily prayer Fasting during Ramadan Charity / alms Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) - By his death in 632, had brought most of Arabia under control

Jihad Jihad -“Struggle” Against vice Against ignorance of Islam “Holy war” Against unbelievers who threaten Islam

Islamic Law: The Sharia Sharia – Islamic holy law – guidance in proper behavior on almost every aspect of life Based on Quran, hadith, logical schools of analysis Extends beyond ritual law to all areas of human activity Guidance on marriage, family life, inheritance, slavery, business and commercial relationships and political authority, and crime Hadith - early accounts of Muhammad’s life and teachings thru this, Islam is more than a religious doctrine – it is a complete way of life with social and ethical values

The Caliphs No clear successor to Muhammad identified Abu Bakr chosen to lead as caliph (deputy) Led war against villagers who abandoned Islam after death of Muhammad

The Expansion of Islam Highly successful attacks on Byzantine, Sasanid territories Difficulties governing rapidly expanding territory faced uprisings by overtaxed peasants and oppressed ethnic and religious minorities - The umma went on offensive against places that had renounced Islam after Muhammad died and reconquered them within a year - attacked on Byzantine and Sasanid when both were already exhausted from fights with each other

Map: Realm of Islam b/w – took Syria, Palestine and most of Mesopotamia 640’s – took Egypt and most of North Africa 651 – took Sasanid dynasty and Persia 711 – Hindu kingdom of Sind – western North Africa into most of Iberia and threatened Gaul Hard to rule over lands so vast

The Shia Disagreements over selection of caliphs Ali passed over for Abu Bakr Served as caliph C.E., then assassinated along with most of his followers Remaining followers organize separate party called “Shia” Traditionalists: Sunni Hard to chose a caliph b/c political ambitions, personal differences and clan loyalties and disputes led to rise of factions and parties Shia taught that descendants of Ali were infallible, sinless and divinely appointed to rule

Islam: Empire of Faith Pt. I

The Umayyad Dynasty ( C.E.) Umayyad Dynasty - established by very prominent Meccan merchant class Brought stability to the Islamic community Capital: Damascus, Syria highly centralized rule Associated with Arab military aristocracy Military were appointed as governors / administrators of conquered lands After Mohammad, and the subsequent assassination of Ali, - the Ummuyyad brought stability – eased divisions and threats of sucession. favor shown to fellow Arabs brewed discontent Military were also provided lots of wealth from conquered regions

Policy toward Conquered People Favoritism of Arab military rulers causes discontent Limited social mobility for non-Arab Muslims Head tax (jizya) on non-Muslims Umayyad luxurious living causes further decline in moral authority Favoritism upset the Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists -- mostly were allowed to practice faith, but levied special head tax – jizya – on those that did not convert could not rise to positions of authority caliphs began to live luxuriously and were casual towards Islamic doctrine and morality

The Abbasid Dynasty ( C.E.) Rebellion in Persia brought Umayyad to end Leader was Abu al-Abbas, Sunni Arab, allied with Shia, non-Arab Muslims Seizes control of Persia and Mesopotamia Defeats Umayyad army in 750 C.E. Invited Umayyad to banquet to “reconcile”, then massacred them Abu al-Abbas, descendant of Muhammad’s uncle Invited remaining Ummayyad clan to a festivity w/ pretext of reconcilliation. Slaughtered them.

Nature of the Abbasid Dynasty Diverse nature of administration (i.e. not exclusively Arab) Militarily competent, but not bent on imperial expansion Content to administer the empire they had inherited Dar al-Islam (“House of Islam”) term used by Muslim scholars to refer to those countries where Muslims can practice their religion freely Growth through military activity of autonomous Islamic forces other ethnicities were allowed in government did not show favor to the military elite it was not a conquering dynasty though they fought occasionally -- defeat of Chinese army ended expansion of Tang into central Asia

Abbasid Administration Persian influence influenced how they governed Court at Baghdad Influence of Islamic scholars (Ulama & Quadis) Ulama “people with religious knowledge” Qadis “judges” Sought to develop policy based on the Quran and sharia law Set moral standards for communities and resolved disputes built new beautiful capital at Baghdad by building new center in Baghdad – more associated with cosmopolitan cities in Mesopotamia. A round city protected by 3 round walls

Caliph Harun-al-Rashid ( C.E.) High point of Abbasid dynasty Baghdad center of commerce Baghdad - center of banking, commerce, crafts, industry Great cultural activity supported writers, artists gave money to the poor and commoners by tossing money in the streets under Hārūn ar-Rashīd that Baghdad flourished into the most splendid city of its period. Tribute was paid by many rulers to the caliph, and these funds were used on architecture, the arts and a luxurious life at court Due to the Thousand-and-One Nights tales, Harun al-Rashid turned into a legendary figure obscuring his true historic personality sent elephant and presents to Charlemagne – though largely believed to be a myth

Abbasid Decline Civil war between sons of Harun al-Rashid Provincial governors assert regional independence Dissenting sects, secede from the state Harun al-Rashid essentially sewed seeds of the dynasty’s demise by apportioning the empire to his 2 sons civil war between his sons hurt authority -- disputes over succession b/c common Governors took taxes and created bases of power in some cases seceding from the state

Abbasid Decline Abbasid caliphs become puppets of Persian nobility Later, Saljuq Turks influence; sultan real power behind the throne Later fell to Saljuq Turks (nomads from central Asia) Rebellions by peasants and provincial gov’rs led authorities in Baghdad to ally with Saljuqs who had begun to enter empire in mid 10th cent. And convert to Islam.

Economy of the Early Islamic World Spread of food and industrial crops cotton for a textile industry, paper indigo and henna to color fabrics Trade routes from India to Spain New crops adapted to different growing seasons Agricultural sciences develop irrigation, crop rotation, etc. Major cities emerge on irrigation, crop rotation, etc. – wrote findings in manuals that survive – agriculture spurs economic growth - When the Arabs defeated the Chinese at Talas River in 751 they took prisoners who were good at making paper -- made keeping records easier

Formation of Hemispheric Trading Zone Historical precedent of Arabic trade Dar al-Islam (areas where Muslims are in the majority) encompasses silk routes Camel caravans became more common when saddle was created Ice exported from mountains of Syria to Egypt in summer, 10th century inns along the way, plus food, water, and care for animals - Muhammad believed that honest merchants would be beside martyrs on judgment day - elaborate trade routes linked Islamic world to larger world

Formation of Hemispheric Trading Zone Maritime trade - Innovations in nautical tech increased trade on sea used compass invented by Chinese used lateen sail from SE Asia and Indian mariners from Hellenistic Mediterranean they used the astrolabe went as far as Southern China

Banking and Trade Scale of trade causes banks to develop had multiple branches that honored letters of credit known as Sakk (“check”) Uniformity of Islamic law throughout dar al-Islam promotes trade Joint ventures common banking stimulated the economy loaned money to businessmen, brokers for investments, exchanged different currencies Islamic businessmen preferred to pool resources to keep the risk down

Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) Muslim Berber conquerors from north Africa take Spain, early 8th century built the beautiful capital of Cordoba Allied to Umayyads, refused to recognize Abbasid dynasty Formed own caliphate Tensions, but participated in trade with larger Islamic world - Spain prosperous. Provincial governors Al-Andalus were Ummayyad - refuse to recognize Abbasid dynasty Berbers – Black African Muslims – ceramics, painted tiles, lead crystal and gold jewelry were their major exports 10th century – had 10 miles of public lighted roads, free schools and a beautiful library with 400,000 volumes

The Changing Status of Women Patriarchal society existed long before Muhammad Quran improves status of women Outlawed female infanticide Brides, not husbands, claim dowries Yet male dominance preserved Patrilineal descent Polygamy permitted (limited to 4 wives), polyandry forbidden Veil adopted from ancient Mesopotamian practice Could inherit property, divorce husbands on their own, engage in business ventures. Portrayed women as honorable people, not as property Muhammad’s actions towards his own wives may have helped enhance the status of women Equal to men before Allah Over time…some interpreted Quran differently – limiting some freedom for women Law recognized descent thru male lineage

The Formation of an Islamic Cultural Tradition Islamic values Uniformity of Islamic law in dar al-Islam Establishment of madrasas: higher institutions of learning Importance of the hajj Many mosques maintained schools – elementary education and religious instruction Inexpensive paper helped scholars instruct students

Formation of an Islamic Cultural Tradition Mystics known as Sufis were educated in Islamic law and theology – but concerned themselves with deepening their spiritual awareness Sufi missionaries Asceticism, mysticism Some tension with orthodox Islamic theologians Wide popularity Sufis led pure and ascetic lives – some gave up everything and lived as beggars many wanted mystical ecstatic union with Allah – rousing sermons, passionate signing and dancing Muslim theologians usually distrusted them because of their lack of concern for doctrine thought devotion to Allah was more important than mastering doctrine. - wanted people to worship Allah in their own ways. their kindness, holiness and tolerance attracted converts in lands where Zorostrianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism were

Al-Ghazali ( ) Major Sufi thinker from Persia Impossibility of intellectual apprehension of Allah, devotion, mystical ecstasy instead - single most influential Muslim after the Islamic prophet Muhammad - belief that all causal events and interactions are not the product of material conjunctions but rather the immediate and present Will of God

Cultural Influences on Islam Persia Administration and governance literature India Mathematics, science, medicine “Hindi” numbers Greece Philosophy, especially Aristotle Ibn Rushd/Averroes ( ) Books on Medicine, Physics, Astronomy & Psychology - His books articulate rational understanding of the world. Influenced development of scholasticism in Europe !

Ibn Battuta: Travels in Asia and Africa
What practice shocked him as being very different from Muslims elsewhere? Name 3 things that impressed him as being “admirable qualities.” Name 3 things he stated were “bad qualities.”

Islam: Empire of Faith Pt. I

Crashcourse: Islam

Chapter 13: The Expansive Realm of Islam

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